Can the Academy Save Itself From Itself?

It was one thing that film fans and Oscar fans alike joined forces to decry the Academy’s decision to move four categories – Cinematography, Film Editing, Live-Action Short and Makeup & Hairstyling – to commercial breaks (to be edited into the show later) I don’t know if they were expected the level of anger and even vitriol that came their way when actors and filmmakers also rallied against the decision, taking to social media to voice their disappointment, distress and sometimes downright anger. [UPDATE: see below]

In the history of CINEMA, masterpieces have existed without sound, without color, without a story, without actors and without music. No one single film has ever existed without CINEMAtography and without editing.

The Academy is removing cinematography, editing and make up from the televised show?This is just such a fundamentally stupid decision, I’m not even going to be bothered trying to be a smart arse about it.It’s just too fucking dumb for words.

What an insult to award two of the most essentialQualities of film making in the commercial breaks.This is a misguided act that robs the awards ofWhatever relevance remains. It’s now just a platformFor commercials.

Reposting, revised: I would not presume to suggest what categories should occur during commercials on Oscars night, but, please: Cinematography & Editing are at the very heart of our craft. They are not inherited from a theatrical or literary tradition: they are cinema itself.

This outcry prompted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board of governors to fire off a letter proclaiming that ‘There has been a chain of misinformation.’ Yes, they’re crying ‘Fake News.’

The letter reads as follows:

“As the Academy’s officers, we’d like to assure you that no award category at the 91st Oscars ceremony will be presented in a manner that depicts the achievements of its nominees and winners as less than any others,” the letter states. “Unfortunately, as the result of inaccurate reporting and social media posts, there has been a chain of misinformation that has understandably upset many Academy members. We’d like to restate and explain the plans for presenting the awards, as endorsed by the Academy’s Board of Governors.”

[The show producers have] “given great consideration to both Oscar tradition and our broad global audience. We sincerely believe you will be pleased with the show, and look forward to celebrating a great year in movies with all Academy members and with the rest of the world.”

The letter was signed by president John Bailey, vice presidents Lois Burwell, Sid Ganis and Larry Karaszewski, Nancy Utley, treasurer Jim Gianopulos and secretary David Rubin.

They also broke down exactly how the four categories would be presented, exactly as has been reported – in edited versions to be inserted into the show later. It was stated that only the time from name announcement to the stage would be cut but as we reported in the 90th Oscars show breakdown, that wouldn’t account for nearly enough time to assist in getting to a 3-hour show. The board elaborated that each year four to six categories will be chosen to receive this treatment with this year’s categories not up for the chop in 2020. It can probably be safely presumed that no category would have to in consecutive years but no clarification was made on that. No clarification either on if any ‘Top 8’ categories (Acting, Writing, Director, Picture) would be affected but that seems highly doubtful. The idea was discussed and agreed to in August with “full support” of all branches, the same time the ‘Popular Film’ Oscar was introduced and then quickly shuttered after immense backlash.

Just before the email went out to members, an open letter to AMPAS president John Bailey from over three dozen Oscar-winning and nominated directors and cinematographers including Karyn Kusama, Marjane Satrapi, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Roger Deakins and Emmanuel Lubezki. [UPDATE: Over 100 directors, actors and filmmakers have been added to the list, now featured below]

“Relegating these essential cinematic crafts to lesser status in this 91st Academy Awards ceremony is nothing less than an insult to those of us who have devoted our lives and passions to our chosen profession,” it read.

With Oscar winner voting currently underway and the ceremony just 10 days away, a change back to keeping those four categories intact on the show would require the entire Board of Governors (54 members) to reconvene and vote to do so. No word on if that is even on the table but AMPAS president John Bailey seems to be digging his heels in on the matter.

Just last week after a rumor swirled that the Oscars producers, Glenn Weiss and Donna Gigliotti, decided not to ask last year’s acting winners to return as presenters (as is Oscars tradition) and instead seek out more ‘high-caliber’ stars, Best Supporting Actress winner Allison Janney took to her Instagram to express her dismay at the decision. Within days, Janney deleted the post and the Academy did a quick 180, inviting all four winners back to present, with a twist; instead of having each winner present to the opposite gender of their category, the plan is for Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell to present together, as well as Gary Oldman and Janney. No word on what categories they’d be in charge of.

Here is the filmmakers’ open letter in its entirety:

An Open Letter to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and The Producers of the 91st Annual Academy Awards Broadcast:

On Monday, February 11, 2019, John Bailey, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, announced that this year’s Oscar presentations for Best Cinematography — along with Film Editing, Live Action Short and Makeup and Hairstyling — will not be broadcast live, but rather presented during a commercial break. This decision was made to reduce the length of the show from four hours to three. The vocal response from our peers and the immediate backlash from industry leaders over the Academy’s decision makes it clear that it’s not too late to have this decision reversed.

The Academy was founded in 1927 to recognize and uphold excellence in the cinematic arts, inspire imagination and help connect the world through the universal medium of motion pictures. Unfortunately, we have drifted from this mission in our pursuit of presenting entertainment rather than in presenting a celebration of our art form and the people behind it.

Relegating these essential cinematic crafts to lesser status in this 91 st Academy Awards ceremony is nothing less than an insult to those of us who have devoted our lives and passions to our chosen profession.

The show’s director, Glenn Weiss, has stated that he will determine what “emotionally resonant” moments from the four winners’ speeches will be selected to air later in the broadcast. The show will cut any additional comment from presenters, as well as any recitation of the nominees as they see fit.

Since its inception, the Academy Awards telecast has been altered over time to keep the format fresh, but never by sacrificing the integrity of the Academy’s original mission. When the recognition of those responsible for the creation of outstanding cinema is being diminished by the very institution whose purpose it is to protect it, then we are no longer upholding the spirit of the Academy’s promise to celebrate film as a collaborative art form. To quote our colleague Seth Rogan, “What better way to celebrate achievements in film than to NOT publicly honor the people whose job it is to literally film things.”

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About Erik Anderson

Erik thanks his mother for his love of all things Oscar, having watched the Academy Awards together since he was in the single digits; making lists, rankings and predictions throughout the show. This led him down the path to obsessing about awards. Much later, he found himself at GoldDerby, led by Tom O’Neill and then migrated over to Oscarwatch (now AwardsDaily), headed up by Sasha Stone before breaking off to create AwardsWatch. He is a member of the International Cinephile Society, GALECA (The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics), the International Press Academy and is the founder/owner of AwardsWatch.

2020 Best Picture Predictions

1917 (Universal) December 25
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Sony/Columbia) November 22
Ford v. Ferrari (20th Century Fox) November 15
Harriet (Focus Features) November 1
The Irishman (Netflix)
Jojo Rabbit (Fox Searchlight) October 18
Just Mercy (Warner Bros.) January 17, 2020
The Laundromat (Netflix)
Little Women (Sony/Columbia) December 25
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (Sony/Columbia) July 26

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